Maiga sets the bar at Comrades
The legs of Moris Maiga of Legogote Villagers (44) conquered the deceptively tricky 93rd Comrades Marathon in 7:05,14.
He completed the 91,1-kilometre down-hill route for the third time and also this year he was the fastest runner of the local clubs.
Maiga, who competed in the men 40-49 years category, ranked overall 267 out of the 19 058 runners, 253 of 14 885 in the gender category and in his category he placed 81st of 5 709 competitors.
Some 80 years later, Maiga was the first member of his club to achieve a silver medal.
“I am so impressed with my time and I set a goal for myself to return with a silver medal. Next year I will be running my fourth consecutive Comrades and I want to try to run a sub six,” said Maiga.
Natasha Malan of Nedbank LVCC – the fastest woman of the local clubs – completed her fourth Comrades in a time of 7:55,18.
Setting off at 6:50,06 she was the 28th lady in the open-category out of the 1 926 who finished the race. With an average speed of five minutes per kilometre she crossed the finish line at 13:25.
She received a Bill Rowan medal.
Madelein Whitehair, who ran in the yellow jersey for the first time, was the first female nationally to complete the race for Run Walk For Life. Last year she ran in her first green number. Her time was 8:49,52.
Nelspruit Marathon Club’s Samuel Makamu (7:12,27), Deane Mortlock (7:32,48) and December Mashaba (7:47,19) managed to do the 90,184 kilometres under eight hours.
Another club member of Legogote, Mashibanyana Themba ran his double green number on Sunday with a time of 9:10,03.
Definition Athletics Club’s Chantal Middel-Bovee, who was the only member of her club to run “The Ultimate Human Race” completed her first ever Comrades with a time of 9:57,59.
A special mention must be made to LVCC’s Video Murray that completed his 29th Comrades Marathon.
He will hopefully next year compete for his third green number.
